After my morning ride, I went out to the front porch to water the plants. When I turned to go back in, I was struck with the wonderful contrast & composition of the glittering glass spiral and the shadow it is casting upon a handmade birdhouse.

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I was caught off guard this morning by the “new security system” in the garage behind my courtyard!!!

Sure, it’s just a normal stuffed animal…
but I must admit it did make me do a double-take!

Beautiful day today in Chicago.
And a wonderful bike ride to work out some of my Triathlon kinks from yesterday.
Love when you find random acts of creativity along the way.

Another wonderful video of Korean master potters at work. It shows the entire process from decorating, carving, glazing, loading the kiln, unloading and admiring. The only part it doesn’t show is the initial throwing of the vessel… or any sort of mirth, merriment or Oreo’s?!!! That must be what I’m doing wrong?!…

Click here for the “Icheon Masters” video on Vimeo.

Down on the south side of the bike trail, just north of Promontory Point, there’s this wonderfully large sculpture along side the lake. Constructed of steel tubing and plastic water bottles! Fits in perfectly with the moody misty morning sky.

Our flock of birds have taken flight as part of an art installation in The Pathway. Over thirty of these whimsical birds have taken flight. They will fly through the trees during the Firefly Music Festival, as well as the Big Barrel Country Music Festival.

This “flock” of stylized birds is all prepped, wired and ready for installation in The Pathway tomorrow!

I’ve driven past this “mural” for years now. It’s gotten a bit beaten up & faded… until someone just recently refreshed it and gave her a bit of a facelift. You gotta love some good graffiti now and again, huh?! Especially when they take time to “care” for it too?!!!

Somebody’s been doodling…
Something new is happening along the back staircase of Lillstreet Art Center…
It’s been an unattractive & slightly grimy brick stairway for years.
A little art on the walls will be a very welcome addition!!!

So after a couple hours of Spring Cleaning in my storage room this weekend, I decided to do “tough love” and discard some old pieces, tiles, and tests. Just cleaning out and making room for more new work. So a hammer became the tool du jour… and now I have two boxes of beautiful shards. For the most part, they’re nice flat pieces of clay. Perfect for a mosaic project of some sort. And I would MUCH rather someone make something cool out of them before I toss then into the dumpster.

ANYONE WANT SOME FREE TEXTURED SHARDS???
First-cone, first-served… and we’re doing it on my Pottery Facebook page.
The first person to leave a Comment that they want one box, or both, will get them.
Don’t try to claim them here on the blog… check the Facebook posting for claiming them, or to check if they’re already gone?!

I just don’t want to ship them. If you could swing by my place or my studio to get them, or even pick them up at one of my summer art fairs, that would be great. I would love to see them go to a good home… and become some really cool art project!!!

A full box of soda-fired shards with slips & glazes fired to cone 10…

And a full box of terra cotta shards with black underglaze fired to cone 05…

TEXTURED SHARDS : CLAIMED 4.28.15... about 30 minutes after posting!!!
My college friend Kelly was the first to claim them. I’m sure she and her 10 kids will do some fantastic craft projects this summer. Can’t wait to see what they make… and I’m sure we’ll get photos to share here as well. Right, Kelly ???